Don't turn on the tv or talk radio. You are bound to hear about the woes of the American dollar and the price of gas, the plummeting stock market and the sky-rocketing prices of food. There, I just told you everything you'll hear on the nightly news so now you have an extra half hour to do something you enjoy.
I don't want to make fun of the economic stress that people are in. It is very real. People are feeling the pinch and that is making them pinch their pennies a little tighter. For one thing, Mike and I are on a family budget now which we really haven't been on since we lived in CA. We have some savings goals that we'd like to reach by the end of the year. But I ran across this article on-line (click here for the article). I'd like to know what you all think about it. Do you think it is really that much of a severe handicap to buy groceries on a somewhat limited budget?
July 29, 2008
The World is "Money" Crazy
July 28, 2008
What We've Been Up To
We've had a great summer so far even with a smattering of illness with the two girls. Now we are looking forward to the fall and school starting. In preparation of such, Luke picked out his lunch box. Actually, I didn't really see any lunch boxes. They have something more akin to lunch sacs or coolers per se. I fondly remember my Miss Piggy lunch box with her blazing in pink glory upon a motorcycle. Ahhhh, I loved it! Did anyone else have a favorite lunch box? Well, Luke picked out a black "camo" lunch box, er... cooler. He wants a matching camouflage backpack but they are not on sale. I remembered we got a very nice backpack compliments of the hospital after we had Libby. Okay, okay, it has Mercy Medical Center written on that but it is navy colored. So our plan is to find a really cool "army" patch to put on there to cover up the hospital's logo. We have some NASA ones and I'm trying to convince Luke that NASA is just as cool, if not cooler than the Army or Airforce. So far, no dice.
Abby is constantly wearing her dress-up high heels around the house. I think she walks better in heels than I do! Mom, what were you thinking not training me early!? She likes to wear chap stick which she fondly refers to as her "make-up." She mentioned a month or so ago that she'd like to get her ears pierced. To which I described the process of piercing and she's decided to wait. In some ways she is totally ready to be in preschool this year. She is sounding out simple 3 letter words and such. But due to her late birthday, we're holding her back and she'll go next fall.
Libby is growing taller and taller. I'm really quite amazed at her! She is attached to her crocheted blanket. In fact, one night she was attached to her crocheted blanket. She was fussing but not awake. I'd go in and peek at her and she'd be fine and quiet but then I'd get back into bed and hear her again. So I finally went in and picked her up. I said, "No, let's leave your blanket in the bed." However, it wouldn't be released. That's when I realized that it was wrapped around her thumb and cutting off all the blood supply! I raced into our room and grabbed a scissors we keep in there and cut the string. We (Mike was totally awake at this point) rubbed her thumb until it was nice and pink again. No lasting affects. However, we do not let her sleep with that blanket anymore. I think it was washed too many times and the yarn was no longer stretchy.
Mike has been working tons. He's very busy at work. I've been doing projects around the house. I bought some "oops" paint at Home Depot and painted the basement play room. Maybe I'll post pictures when it is all done and put back together. Our neighbors across the street came upon a deal where someone had a bunch of landscaping rocks (most are about 3-6 inches in diameter) left over and wanted to get rid of them. So yesterday, Mike and I hauled rocks into our backyard to make a little dry creek bed (one of our neighbors yards funnels all of it's run off water down a little area and constantly is washing the mulch away back there). The little creek bed will be about 12 feet long and shouldn't take long after we get some landscape fabric.
So that's about it! I'm harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers and lots of herbs. I rooted a cutting of basil to make another plant, we'll see if it lives. My summer squash were all killed by squash vine borers. Ohhhh, I hate those bugs!!!! I planted some irises I got on clearance and thinned and spread some of the ones we had from before. I've never thinned and planted before so I'm really hoping I didn't kill them! I just broke them off instead of cutting them with a knife....Wanda, let me know if that will work!
That's the novel for the day. God bless!
PS - you should be able to double click on the menu calendar and see each day. Sometimes I put in links for recipes in the event description....
Do you like moist, chocolate cake?
Then, dear readers - this is the recipe for you! I made this with a German chocolate cake frosting, also from Allrecipes.com for Mike's birthday celebration.
| Dark Chocolate Cake II |  |
| Submitted by: Kellygurll Rated: 5 out of 5 by 168 members | Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 35 Minutes | Ready In: 45 Minutes Yields: 12 servings |
| 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups white sugar 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt | 2 eggs 1 cup cold brewed coffee 1 cup milk 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vinegar |
| 1. | Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. |
| 2. | In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, coffee, milk, oil and vinegar. Mix until smooth, batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pan. |
| 3. | Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool. |
July 23, 2008
Happy Birthday Mike!
Today is Mike's birthday. I think he is having a pretty good day. We had blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast. Then he got to open his presents from the kids and me. He got some binoculars and teeny, tiny leatherman to carry around. From what I hear, he went out to lunch with some co-workers to our favorite Chinese restaurant. Then the kids and I are going to meet him at Applebee's for supper.
You know I must love my husband because today I made him two quarts of sweet refrigerator pickles.
Happy Birthday Mike!
July 20, 2008
We'll Never Starve
Alright, most of us have heard about dandylion greens being added to salads or even the whole salad being all dandylion greens but have you ever heard about purslane?
I was reading this humorous book about gardening and the author described purslane. Hmmmm, I thought, that sounds a lot like the stupid weed I've been pulling out and can never get rid of. He mentioned that higher-end chefs like this to add to soups and salads. So after weeding tonight, I decided that I needed to find out what purslane looks like.
And it is indeed the stupid weed!
Click here if you want to see the description of it.
If I weren't in my pj's I'd probably go out and try some because from the description of it, it sounds like something I'd really enjoy. I'll report back more later... Or maybe some of you could try it and let me know ;)
However, the one thing I know is this. If we can eat weeds, we will never, NEVER go hungry.
Update: While grabbing some basil for something last night, I went ahead and grabbed some of this purslane. Yes, indeed, I tasted it after washing it off. I have to say, it wasn't bad but somehow I felt like I was a cow grazing the pasture. So, I don't think I'll be making a salad anytime soon with it.
July 18, 2008
July Garden
Here is a peak at how everything is growing in the backyard. I just love the garden after a rain, everything just looks so clean and fresh. Enjoy!
July 16, 2008
July 15, 2008
Clouds
Okay, at the risk of seeming even geekier than I already do, I'm going to post these pictures. One of the things I really missed living in CA was weather. And you Mid-Westerners know what I'm talking about. I really like a good "booming" thunderstorm (although I can do without the hail, tornadoes, and insanely strong winds). There is just something exciting and vitalizing about it. God certainly created the weather with the ability to overpower us humans. I also missed (while in CA) pretty sunsets created by the sun's glow on the clouds (they were pretty much obscured by the mountains or there were no clouds to speak of). So here are a couple of cloud pictures because now I take pictures of the "weather" cause I used to live without it!
These pictures are of an advancing front of a soon to be thunderstorm. We wound up in the basement due to tornado warnings.
A little investigation shows that these are altocumulus clouds. Pretty cool to see the whole sky almost covered with them.
Pics of the Girls
Libby loves to wear things on her head: hats, crowns, sunglasses, and now apparently goggles.
Miss Abigail looking so "American" in her jean jacket waiting for the fireworks.
You can't really see this very well but let me describe it to you. Abby is in this picture what the world says a "modern" woman should be. She's wearing her Barbie nightgown and dress-up high heels. What does she decide to do? Kick a soccer ball around the yard.
July 14, 2008
Yummy General
If you haven't noticed already, my menu plan is now on the sidebar for your enjoyment. Tonight's menu was for General Tso's Chicken and boy, was it a winner! Here is the recipe in case your inner Chinese wants to come out.
General Tso's Tofu
2 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin
1 package extra-firm tofu, drained and pressed
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup vegetable oil
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 Tbsp crushed red pepper
Whisk together the 2 Tbsp cornstarch, water, garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce and mirin. Set aside.
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While oil is heating, cut tofu into 0.5" x 1" cubes; toss with the remaining 1 cup cornstarch. Add to hot oil and cook several minutes, shaking occasionally, until tofu is crispy and lightly golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and discard all but 1 tsp oil.
Return pan to heat, and add green onions and crushed red pepper. Cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk soy sauce mixture and add to the pan. Whisk and stir until the sauce boils and thickens. Add tofu and toss to coat.
Serve with rice and broccoli.
Now, no, I did not use tofu. Instead, I used chicken - two VERY large breasts (where do they grow these mini T-rexes?). And I didn't use mirin - I even had to look up that one - but I substituted rice wine vinegar - available in the Asian section of your local supermarket (it also makes some pretty good salad dressing but that is another post). And I didn't use the full tablespoon of crushed red pepper flakes. Instead, I used about 2 teaspoons, at least that's what I'm guessing two packet's of Domino's crushed red pepper flakes comes out to being. It was plenty spicy. You may want to cut down if your children or spouse's taste buds tend to enjoy the milder cuisines.
I did have to ask myself why I made a dish that had rice in it. It seems I do this just about every day I mop the floor. Note to self - don't make rice dishes on Mondays....There's a reason we still tip at Chinese buffet places, the rice-kid aftermath tends not to be pretty.
The Travesty of It!
Yesterday, I had to say good-bye to 6 purple coneflowers. I had started them from seed our first winter here. Thankfully, I still have 5 that are in good shape. What could have happened? you ask. Well, I noticed some slow growth and funky reddish leaves on them. And then the flowers weren't purple but a greenish-yellow color. So, finally, I decided to do what any good modern-aged gardener would do and I "googled" echinacea turning yellow and found my plants were gonners in about 3 seconds. Apparently, some leaf hopper (bug) must have infected my plants with something called a phytoplasma, a plant pathogenic micro-organism. It could be transfered to other plants (apparently, it can affect a wide range of plants). So I pulled them out. To make myself feel better, I went to Hy-vee and got a pink knockout rose and an endless summer hydrangea 40 percent off. Oh, and the lady there gave me some seed packets for free (nice) - they'll still work next spring I'm sure. All in all, I'm kinda excited to see how the new plants fair.
July 12, 2008
Boys....
Luke's question of the day:
If Yoda and Samson (from the bible) were to fight, which one would win?
Mike really got into figuring it out - all the "force" business as opposed to Samson killing 1000 Philistines with a jawbone of a donkey (see Judges 15). My answer: Samson was real; Yoda is a fictional character, thus Samson would win.
July 07, 2008
Menu Planning Monday
Here it is! This week's endeavor:
Monday: Seafood Salad Sandwiches (I made this recipe up - we'll see if Mike likes it) & Chips
Tuesday: Chicken Risotto with Broccoli (in the pressure cooker)
Wednesday: Molten Cheeseburgers & Baked Fries
Thursday: Chicken & Cheese Stuffed Shells & Lettuce Salad
Friday: Broiled Parmesan Tilapia, Lemon Couscous & Lettuce Salad
Saturday: Homemade Pizza
July 03, 2008
Front bed update
In my mind, it looks like things have grown but perhaps they haven't as much as I think....
A Note From Luke
I went outside to do some flower dead-heading this afternoon. Luke came out with a variety of games for the Wii and asked if he could play. My brother Michael had just happened to call and I just told Luke "no." Does anyone else hate it when their kids start asking for stuff when they get on the phone? Anyway, that's probably a different post. So I come back in the house 15 minutes later and Luke is no where to be found. Hmmmm....
Then I see this on the table:
My son is 5 (almost 6) and he'll be attending Kindergarten in the fall. I thought he did a pretty good job on the note.
"MOM PLESE KOOD YUO LET ME PLAE A GAME FRUM LUKE"
Translation: Mom, please could you let me play a game? From Luke.
Now, really, how can a mom turn down that request?
Luke was hiding in the living room. When I called for him, he popped up and I told him he could play. He was very happy. Hope I haven't taught him anything that is going to bite me in the end....
